Hoff Emynau Dechrau Canu Dechrau Canmol

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-Welcome to Dechrau Canu

-Dechrau Canmol from Caernarfon.

-# Soli Deo gloria

-# Soli Deo gloria

-# Soli Deo gloria #

-Tonight we'll meet

-some of the area's residents...

-..and hear their favourite hymns.

-But we begin with our first hymn.

-Dyma Gariad Fel Y Moroedd.

-Alun Ellis is a horticulture and

-conservation tutor at Glynllifon.

-For the past two years, he's been

-an elder at Croes Y Waun Chapel.

-He's certainly one of

-the youngest elders in the district.

-Tell us about your work here in

-Glynllifon and what it means to you.

-Basically,

-I teach horticulture to teenagers.

-Young people

-with educational needs...

-..and those who need

-more of a helping hand...

-..before moving on

-to mainstream higher education.

-The chapel's important to you.

-The chapel's important to you.

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-The chapel's central in my life.

-I've been an elder there

-for three years...

-..and I'm also

-a Sunday school teacher.

-It can be difficult attracting young

-people to our chapels nowadays.

-I have to admit,

-I'm not disheartened by it.

-The Sunday school

-in Waunfawr is growing.

-I wouldn't say it's flourishing but

-it's growing from month to month.

-If a Sunday school in a small

-village grows from month to month...

-..then there's hope.

-You've chosen your favourite hymn.

-Tell us what it is.

-It's a translation by Dafydd Jones.

-Dafydd Jones from Caio...

-..was a drover.

-He drove cattle to England, where he

-embraced the work of Isaac Watts...

-..the famous English hymnist.

-He set about translating his work..

-..and named them Salmau Dafydd

-(Psalms of David).

-I like the hymn better when

-it's sung to the hymn tune Moliant.

-We're not asking for anything.

-We're not trying

-to make a deal with God in the hymn.

-It's simple and traditional.

-The only thing we do

-is give thanks and praise.

-# When I survey the wondrous cross

-# On which the prince of glory died

-# My richest gain I count but loss

-# And pour contempt on all my pride

-# Forbid it, Lord,

-that I should boast

-# Save in the death of Christ my God

-# All the vain things

-that charm me most

-# I sacrifice them to His blood

-# Were the whole realm

-of nature mine

-# That were a present far too small

-# Love so amazing, so divine

-# Demands my soul, my life, my all #

-Wendy Ostler is a member

-of the town's Salem Chapel.

-She's a Conwy schools

-liaison officer.

-You moved to the town 18 years ago.

-Tell us why you moved here

-and a little of your history.

-We moved here from Swansea

-due to work obligations...

-..but it had always been both

-our dreams to raise the children...

-..in a Welsh-speaking community.

-You're a member of Salem Chapel,

-which you hold dear.

-Yes, before I left Swansea,

-I said to my friend...

-.."Where am I going to

-go to chapel in North Wales?"

-He said, "If you go to Salem Chapel

-with Ron Williams...

-"..I'm sure you'll be very happy.

-and you'll never want to leave."

-And that's true enough.

-You suffered a bereavement three

-years ago when your husband died.

-I'm sure the Salem community

-were a comfort to you.

-Very much so.

-Many people in the chapel have been

-through similar experiences.

-You find inner strength

-when you see how others are coping.

-You've chosen a special hymn

-tonight. Tell us about it.

-The hymn is Dwy Law Yn Erfyn.

-I was raised in England, so I'm not

-as familiar as I should be...

-..with Welsh hymns.

-I've no distant memories

-of favourite Welsh hymns.

-While I was

-arranging Jim's funeral...

-..we were deciding as a family

-which hymn to choose.

-Jim had been an atheist...

-..but during the last five years

-of his life, he became a Quaker...

-..and they don't sing!

-But I knew he found it

-very comforting...

-..to hear people saying they had

-prayed for him during his illness.

-That was good enough for me.

-Dr Gwyn Lewis is a lecturer

-at Bangor University...

-..and the deputy head of the College

-of Education and Lifelong Learning.

-You're a lecturer

-here at Bangor University.

-Tell us a little about your work.

-I'm the deputy head of the College

-of Education and Lifelong Learning.

-My office is based on the site

-of the former Bangor Normal college.

-I lecture on Welsh-medium

-and bilingual education.

-I'm also carrying out

-research work in that field...

-..focusing on Wales'

-primary and secondary schools.

-Chapel life and religion

-are very important to you.

-Yes, I attended Caernarfon's

-Seilo Chapel from an early age.

-I became an elder

-about 32 years ago...

-..when I was 23 years old.

-I've been the chapel secretary

-for 10 years...

-..and since my teenage years,

-I've been one of Seilo's organists.

-You've a specific reason

-for choosing a particular hymn.

-The hymn is Pan Fwyf

-Yn Teimlo'n Unig Lawer Awr...

-..written by Reverend John Roberts

-Llanfwrog, to many people...

-..but to me, Reverend John Roberts,

-Moriah, Caernarfon.

-He was a minister

-during my childhood in Caernarfon.

-He lived nearby

-and I'd see him every day.

-He was a minister with

-a great influence over the town...

-..especially its children

-and young people.

-This hymn encapsulates

-his personal experiences...

-..and also reflects my faith.

-The invisible guiding hand

-is depicted in the hymn.

-That constant hand which guides us

-through all of life's experiences.

-Our last guest is a community worker

-at the Noddfa community centre...

-..which plays

-such an important role locally.

-I'm here to meet

-Mererid Mair Williams...

-..who's worked here

-for several years.

-The centre is a hive of activity.

-Tell us about it.

-Noddfa community centre is situated

-on the Peblig estate in Caernarfon.

-It's a very busy centre.

-It's situated on the site

-of the former Noddfa Chapel.

-Built in the 1950s,

-it was a chapel initially...

-..established by Sister Emily.

-During the 1970s...

-..the Church had difficulty

-maintaining the building...

-..so it became

-a council-run community centre.

-Missionary as well as youth workers

-have been based here since the '80s.

-We're fortunate as a church that so

-many activities are conducted here.

-Tell us a little about those.

-As a church, we offer the community

-many different services.

-On Sundays, we hold a service

-and Sunday school.

-Christian activities are held here.

-It's important that we reach out

-to the community as a church.

-Part of my job

-is to deal with benefit matters...

-..and those

-who are experiencing difficulties.

-They can call in

-for a chat and a cuppa.

-We've a scheme aimed at

-the relatives of those in prison.

-We arrange a bus to Altcourse Prison

-as part of the Bara project...

-..which aids

-the families of convicts.

-We hold a tea once a month.

-The community choir rehearses here.

-We hold special activities

-on Christian holidays.

-There are open days here on

-St David's Day, Christmas, Easter...

-..and the Pentecost.

-We're also fortunate to have Llinos,

-a full-time youth worker...

-..who co-ordinates many clubs.

-You name it and it goes on here!

-Thank you for the chat.

-It's been very interesting.

-You've chosen a special hymn for us.

-Yes, I'd like to hear

-Newyddion Braf A Ddaeth I'n Bro.

-It's a lively and joyous hymn.

-I like lively hymns,

-that's why I've chosen that one.

-Thank you.

-I hope you at home

-have enjoyed tonight's hymns.

-Goodbye from Caernarfon.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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